Histone Deacetylase Class Research Articles

Rhein, a novel Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with antifibrotic potency in human myocardial fibrosis

Although fibrosis depicts a reparative mechanism, maladaptation of the heart due to excessive production of extracellular matrix accelerates cardiac dysfunction. The anthraquinone Rhein was examined for its anti-fibrotic potency to mitigate cardiac fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT). Primary human ventricular cardiac fibroblasts were subjected to hypoxia and characterized with proteomics, transcriptomics and cell functional techniques. Knowledge based analyses of the omics data revealed a modulation of fibrosis-associated pathways and cell cycle due to Rhein administration during hypoxia, whereas p53 and p21 were identified as upstream regulators involved in the manifestation of cardiac fibroblast phenotypes. Mechanistically, Rhein acts inhibitory on HDAC classes I/II as enzymatic inhibitor. Rhein-mediated cellular effects were linked to the histone deacetylase (HDAC)-dependent protein stabilization of p53 under normoxic but not hypoxic conditions. Functionally, Rhein inhibited collagen contraction, indicating anti-fibrotic property in cardiac remodeling. This was accompanied by increased abundance of SMAD7, but not SMAD2/3, and consistently SMAD-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase SMURF2. In conclusion, this study identifies Rhein as a novel potent direct HDAC inhibitor that may contribute to the treatment of cardiac fibrosis as anti-fibrotic agent. As readily available drug with approved safety, Rhein constitutes a promising potential therapeutic approach in the supplemental and protective intervention of cardiac fibrosis.

Biochemical and Behavioral Characterization of IN14, a New Inhibitor of HDACs with Antidepressant-Like Properties.

Evidence suggests that histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors could be used as an effective treatment for some psychiatric and neurological conditions such as depression, anxiety and age-related cognitive decline. However, non-specific HDAC inhibiting compounds have a clear disadvantage regarding their efficacy and safety, thus the need to develop more selective ones. The present study evaluated the toxicity, the capacity to inhibit HDAC activity and antidepressant-like activity of three recently described class I HDAC inhibitors IN01, IN04 and IN14, using A. salina toxicity test, in vitro fluorometric HDAC activity assay and forced-swimming test, respectively. Our data show that IN14 possesses a better profile than the other two. Therefore, the pro-cognitive and antidepressant effects of IN14 were evaluated. In the forced-swimming test model of depression, intraperitoneal administration of IN14 (100 mg/Kg/day) for five days decreased immobility, a putative marker of behavioral despair, significantly more than tricyclic antidepressant desipramine, while also increasing climbing behavior, a putative marker of motivational behavior. On the other hand, IN14 left the retention latency in the elevated T-maze unaltered. These results suggest that novel HDAC class I inhibitor IN14 may represent a promising new antidepressant with low toxicity and encourages further studies on this compound.

Sodium Valproate, a Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, Provokes Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Sodium valproate (SV), a novel class of histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors commonly used as an antiepileptic drug. HDAC inhibitors are known to possess anticancer potentials. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic potential of SV in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2 cells) cell line. MTT assay was used to analyze cytotoxicity. Intracellular ROS and cytochrome c expression were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Morphology-related apoptosis was analyzed by dual staining with acridine orange/ethidium bromide. Caspase 3 protein expression was investigated by Western blotting analysis. Sodium valproatetreatments in HepG2 cells caused significant and dose-dependent cytotoxicity. Intracellular ROS was remarkably increased in the cells which are treated with SV and caused early and late apoptosis as evidenced by dual staining. SV-treated cells expressed cytochrome c and caspase 3 protein expression. These results suggest the cytotoxic potentials of SV in HepG2 cells. This study may give an important clue for the inclusion of SV as an adjuvant along with standard anticancer agents after necessary in vivo and clinical studies.

Abstract TP114: Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Panobinostat and Entinostat for Motor Recovery After Ischemic Stroke in Mice

In this study, we investigated the potential of two histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, panobinostat and entinostat, to enhance recovery of motor function after ischemic stroke in CD-1 male mice. Panobinostat, which is a pan-HDAC inhibitor, is an FDA-approved drug for certain cancers, whereas entinostat is a class-I HDAC inhibitor and is widely expected to get approval for clinical use in near future. Stroke was induced by photothrombosis and the drugs were administered intraperitoneally every other day (panobinostat at 10 mg/kg or 30 mg/kg; entinostat at 5 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg) starting from day 5 to day 15 after stroke. The control group received only vehicle following the same regimen. In addition, all drug or vehicle-treated mice exercised for 2 hours (voluntary wheel running) starting from day 9 to day 41 after stroke. Additional control groups included sham-operated animals, and mice which had stroke but were not drug/vehicle-treated or allowed to run. Motor function of the mice was evaluated by blinded investigators using gridwalk and cylinder tests before and after stroke. Acetylation of histone 3 in the peri-infarct region of the brain samples was measured by immunoblotting. Our results indicate that lower dose of both panobinostat and entinostat marginally improved motor function in mice by day 42 after stroke, although it did not reach statistical significance. Notably, this improvement trend was lost with the higher dose of both drugs which also showed some toxicity. No statistical difference was observed in running distance of mice among experimental groups. Likewise, we did not observe statistically significant difference in stroke volumes among the experimental groups. Immunoblotting experiments indicated that both panobinostat and entinostat dose-dependently increased the level of acetylated histone in the cortical, peri-infarct region of drug-treated animals compared to the non-treated groups. In summary, our results indicate that both panobinostat and entinostat do not facilitate improvement of motor function after stroke at the tested doses. However, it is likely that lower doses of these drugs may enhance recovery of motor function after stroke.

The Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Romidepsin Spares Normal Tissues While Acting as an Effective Radiosensitizer in Bladder Tumors in Vivo

PurposeMuscle-invasive bladder cancer has a 40% to 60% 5-year survival rate with radical treatment by surgical removal of the bladder or radiation therapy–based bladder preservation techniques, including concurrent chemoradiation. Elderly patients cannot tolerate current chemoradiation therapy regimens and often receive only radiation therapy, which is less effective. We urgently need effective chemotherapy agents for use with radiation therapy combinations that are nontoxic to normal tissues and tolerated by elderly patients.Methods and MaterialsWe have identified histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors as promising agents to study. Pan-HDAC inhibition, using panobinostat, is a good strategy for radiosensitization, but more selective agents may be more useful radiosensitizers in a clinical setting, resulting in fewer systemic side effects. Herein, we study the HDAC class I-selective agent romidepsin, which we predict to have fewer off-target effects than panobinostat while maintaining an effective level of tumor radiosensitization.ResultsIn vitro effects of romidepsin were assessed by clonogenic assay and showed that romidepsin was effective in the nanomolar range in different bladder cancer cells and radiosensitized these cells. The radiosensitizing effect of romidepsin was confirmed in vivo using superficial xenografts. The drug/irradiation combination treatment resulted in significant tumor growth delay but did not increase the severity of acute (3.75 days) intestinal normal tissue toxicity or late toxicity at 29 weeks. Moreover, we showed that romidepsin treatment impaired both homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining DNA repair pathways, suggesting that the disruption of DNA repair pathways caused by romidepsin is a key mechanism for its radiosensitizing effect in bladder cancer cells.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that romidepsin is an effective radiosensitizer in vitro and in vivo and does not increase the acute and late toxicity after ionizing radiation. Romidepsin is already in clinical use for the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, but a phase 1 clinical trial of romidepsin as a radiosensitizer could be considered in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Role of Sirtuins in Tumor Angiogenesis.

Generally, changes in the metabolic status of cells under conditions like hypoxia and accumulation of lactate can be sensed by various sensing mechanisms, leading to modulation of a number of signal transduction pathways and transcription factors. Several of the proangiogenic cytokines like VEGF, FGF, PDGF, TGF-β, Ang-2, ILs, etc. are secreted by cancer cells, under hypoxic microenvironment. These cytokines bind to their receptors on the endothelial cells and activates a number of signaling pathways including Akt/PIP3, Src, p38/MAPK, Smad2/3, etc., which ultimately results in the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. Transcription factors that are activated in response to the metabolic status of tumors include HIFs, NF-κb, p53, El-2, and FOXO. Many of these transcription factors has been reported to be regulated by a class of histone deacetylase called sirtuins. Sirtuins are NAD+ dependent histone deacetylases that play pivotal role in the regulation of tumor cell metabolism, proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. The major function of sirtuins include, deacetylation of histones as well as some non-histone proteins like NF-κB, FOXOs, PPAR⋎, PGC1-α, enzymes like acetyl coenzymeA and structural proteins like α tubulin. In the cell, sirtuins are generally considered as the redox sensors and their activities are dependent on the metabolic status of the cell. Understanding the intricate regulatory mechanisms adopted by sirtuins, is crucial in devising effective therapeutic strategies against angiogenesis, metastasis and tumor progression. Keeping this in mind, the present review focuses on the role of sirtuins in the process of tumor angiogenesis and the regulatory mechanisms employed by them.

Trichostatin A reverses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and attenuates invasion and migration in MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality in women, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) serves an indispensable role in the invasion and migration of breast cancer cells. As a representative of classical histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs), trichostatin A (TSA) has been demonstrated to reverse EMT in certain types of non-tumor cells and tumor cells. In the present study, the invasive and migratory abilities of MCF-7 cells were examined following treatment with TSA. TSA-induced changes in the expression of an epithelial biomarker epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), a mesenchymal biomarker (vimentin), and a transcription factor [zinc finger protein SNAI2 (SLUG)] were also investigated. Transwell invasion and migration assays, and wound healing assays, revealed that the invasive and migratory abilities of MCF-7 cells were suppressed significantly upon treatment with TSA. Treatment with TSA led to an increased expression level of E-cadherin, and decreased expression of vimentin and, in MCF-7 cells. The overexpression of SLUG decreased the expression level of E-cadherin, but increased vimentin expression, and upon treatment with TSA, these effects were reversed. Additionally, SLUG knockdown also led to upregulation of E-cadherin expression, downregulation of vimentin expression, and suppression of the invasion and migration of MCF-7 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that TSA is able to reverse EMT via suppressing SLUG and attenuate the invasion and migration of MCF-7 cells in vitro, thereby providing a potential avenue for chemotherapeutic intervention in the treatment of breast cancer.

Depending on the stress, histone deacetylase inhibitors act as heat shock protein co-inducers in motor neurons and potentiate arimoclomol, exerting neuroprotection through multiple mechanisms in ALS models

Upregulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) is an approach to treatment of neurodegenerative disorders with impaired proteostasis. Many neurons, including motor neurons affected in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are relatively resistant to stress-induced upregulation of HSPs. This study demonstrated that histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors enable the heat shock response in cultured spinal motor neurons, in a stress-dependent manner, and can improve the efficacy of HSP-inducing drugs in murine spinal cord cultures subjected to thermal or proteotoxic stress. The effect of particular HDAC inhibitors differed with the stress paradigm. The HDAC6 (class IIb) inhibitor, tubastatin A, acted as a co-inducer of Hsp70 (HSPA1A) expression with heat shock, but not with proteotoxic stress induced by expression of mutant SOD1 linked to familial ALS. Certain HDAC class I inhibitors (the pan inhibitor, SAHA, or the HDAC1/3 inhibitor, RGFP109) were HSP co-inducers comparable to the hydroxyamine arimoclomol in response to proteotoxic stress, but not thermal stress. Regardless, stress-induced Hsp70 expression could be enhanced by combining an HDAC inhibitor with either arimoclomol or with an HSP90 inhibitor that constitutively induced HSPs. HDAC inhibition failed to induce Hsp70 in motor neurons expressing ALS-linked mutant FUS, in which the heat shock response was suppressed; yet SAHA, RGFP109, and arimoclomol did reduce loss of nuclear FUS, a disease hallmark, and HDAC inhibition rescued the DNA repair response in iPSC-derived motor neurons carrying the FUSP525Lmutation, pointing to multiple mechanisms of neuroprotection by both HDAC inhibiting drugs and arimoclomol.

The Role of Histone Acetyltransferases and Histone Deacetylases in Photoreceptor Differentiation and Degeneration.

Photoreceptors are critical components of the retina and play a role in the first step of the conversion of light to electrical signals. The differentiation and degeneration of photoreceptors are regulated by specific genes and proteins. With the development of epigenetic approaches, scientists have discovered that histone modifications, such as acetylation, methylation, ubiquitylation, and phosphorylation, may modulate the processes of photoreceptor differentiation and degeneration. Histone acetylation is regulated by two opposing classes of enzymes, namely, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), which add and remove acetyl groups to and from target histones, respectively, causing changes in transcriptional activity. Herein, we review the effects of HATs and HDACs on the differentiation and degeneration of photoreceptors and discuss the underlying mechanisms of these effects.

Noninvasive quantification of SIRT1 expression-activity and pharmacologic inhibition in a rat model of intracerebral glioma using 2-[18F]BzAHA PET/CT/MRI.

BackgroundSeveral studies demonstrated that glioblastoma multiforme progression and recurrence is linked to epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) plays an important role in glioma progression, invasion, and treatment response and is a potential therapeutic target. The aim of this study is to test the feasibility of 2-[18F]BzAHA for quantitative imaging of SIRT1 expression–activity and monitoring pharmacologic inhibition in a rat model of intracerebral glioma.MethodsSprague Dawley rats bearing 9L (N = 12) intracerebral gliomas were injected with 2-[18F]BzAHA (300–500 µCi/animal i.v.) and dynamic positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed for 60 min. Then, SIRT1 expression in 9L tumors (N = 6) was studied by immunofluorescence microscopy (IF). Two days later, rats with 9L gliomas were treated either with SIRT1 specific inhibitor EX-527 (5 mg/kg, i.p.; N = 3) or with histone deacetylases class IIa specific inhibitor MC1568 (30 mg/kg, i.p.; N = 3) and 30 min later were injected i.v. with 2-[18F]BzAHA. PET-computerized tomography-magnetic resonance (PET/CT/MR) images acquired after EX-527 and MC1568 treatments were co-registered with baseline images.ResultsStandard uptake values (SUVs) of 2-[18F]BzAHA in 9L tumors measured at 20 min post-radiotracer administration were 1.11 ± 0.058 and had a tumor-to-brainstem SUV ratio of 2.73 ± 0.141. IF of 9L gliomas revealed heterogeneous upregulation of SIRT1, especially in hypoxic and peri-necrotic regions. Significant reduction in 2-[18F]BzAHA SUV and distribution volume in 9L tumors was observed after administration of EX-527, but not MC1568.ConclusionsPET/CT/MRI with 2-[18F]BzAHA can facilitate studies to elucidate the roles of SIRT1 in gliomagenesis and progression, as well as to optimize therapeutic doses of novel SIRT1 inhibitors.

Activation of β-Catenin Signaling and its Crosstalk With Estrogen and Histone Deacetylases in Human Uterine Fibroids.

Uterine fibroids (UF) are the most common benign tumor of the myometrium (MM) in women of reproductive age. However, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of UF is largely unknown. To explore the link between nuclear β-catenin and UF phenotype and β-catenin crosstalk with estrogen and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Protein/RNA levels of β-catenin (CTNNB1 gene), its responsive markers cyclin D1 and c-Myc, androgen receptor (AR), p27, and class-I HDACs were measured in matched UF/MM tissues or cell populations. The effects of chemical inhibition/activation and genetic knockdown of CTNNB1 on UF phenotype were measured. The anti-UF effect of 2 HDAC inhibitors was evaluated. β-catenin nuclear translocation in response to β-catenin inhibition/activation, estrogen, and HDAC inhibitors in UF cells. UF tissues/cells showed significantly higher expression of nuclear β-catenin, cyclin D1, c-Myc, and HDACs 1, 2, 3, and 8 than MM. Estradiol induced β-catenin nuclear translocation and consequently its responsive genes in both MM and UF cells, while an estrogen receptor antagonist reversed this induction effect. Treatment with β-catenin or HDAC inhibitors led to dose-dependent growth inhibition, while Wnt3a treatment increased proliferation compared with control. Chemical inhibition of β-catenin decreased cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression levels, while β-catenin activation increased expression of the same markers. Genetic knockdown of CTNNB1 resulted in a marked decrease in β-catenin, cyclin D1, c-Myc, and AR expression. Treatment of UF cells with HDAC inhibitors decreased nuclear β-catenin, cyclin D1, and c-Myc expression. Moreover, HDAC inhibitors induced apoptosis of UF cells and cell cycle arrest. β-catenin nuclear translocation contributes to UF phenotype, and β-catenin signaling is modulated by estradiol and HDAC activity.

Genome Survey of Chromatin-Modifying Enzymes in Threespine Stickleback: A Crucial Epigenetic Toolkit for Adaptation?

Ocean environments are changing rapidly and marine organisms need to cope with these changes in order to survive, develop, and reproduce. To do so, organisms can either migrate, adapt in situ or acclimate via phenotypic plasticity. In this context, the emerging field of environmental epigenetics investigates the contribution of genetic and epigenetic information to adaptive potential of wild populations. Epigenetic modifications are based on the highly dynamic combination of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, which may facilitate phenotypic plasticity through genotype-epigenotype-environment interactions, and can drive rapid evolution in wild populations. However, while knowledge of epigenetic contributions to phenotypes across different developmental and generational timescales is increasing for medical research model species, the mechanistic and synergistic action of these modifications remain comparatively understudied in ecological models such as teleost fishes. Here, we characterized the evolution of the gene toolkit involved in key molecular epigenetic pathways including DNA methylation, histone modifications, macroH2A histone, and miRNA biogenesis/turnover in threespine stickleback, a model species in evolution and ecology. We then investigated these genes within a phylogenetic context by comparing them in stickleback to human, mouse, chicken, tropical clawed frog, zebrafish, medaka, green spotted puffer, channel catfish, and mangrove rivulus. We found that, in general, conserved domains, in conjunction with their phylogenetic positions, suggest evolutionary conservation of putative enzyme activity in stickleback. However, molecular epigenetic pathways also revealed that teleost gene evolution is diversified and complex. Specifically, the number of genes, gene loss/duplication events, identified conserved domains, and putative protein lengths vary greatly from one species to another, particularly within fishes, which exhibit a potentially new class of histone deacetylases. This suggests different biological functions specific to fish species, and that the action of genes regulating epigenetic modifications in model species are not necessarily applicable to other related species. We integrate our results into recent advances concerning epigenetic mechanisms in teleosts, and conclude by discussing the necessity to delve deeper into the fundamental mechanics of epigenetic modifications in a wide array of taxa, particularly those relevant for assisted evolution, conservation, aquaculture, fisheries, and climate change-adaptation studies.

Selective Targeting of Histone Deacetylase 11 Disables Metabolism of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Introduction: Acetylated histone and non-histone proteins are pharmacologic targets for both solid and hematological cancers including myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), a group of clonal hematological malignancies driven by aberrant JAK2/STAT signaling. MPNs are characterized by epigenetic alterations, including aberrant acetylation, which makes this disease particularly interesting for targeting with HDAC inhibitors. Four classes of histone deacetylases (Class I-IV HDACs) regulate gene transcription and modulate cellular processes that drive the initiation and progression of cancer. Pan-HDAC and class I-selective HDAC inhibitors have gained traction in clinical settings, yet we reasoned that specific targeting of the 18 distinct HDAC proteins may establish roles for select HDACs as therapeutic vulnerabilities in MPNs. Methods: To explore the roles of individual HDACs in MPN, we first conducted an inhibitor screen of compounds having distinct HDAC selectivity based on electrophoretic mobility shift assays with full-length human HDAC proteins expressed in baculovirus and unique peptide substrates. Ultra-specific HDAC6 compounds were initially targeted for analysis based on its previously defined role in HSP90-mediated JAK2 stabilization and translation. Survival of MPN cell line models, MPN patient samples, leukemia cell lines, and MPN disease progression in mice transplanted with Hdac6-/-, and Hdac11-/- hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) transduced with the MPLW515L oncogene, as well as Tg-Hdac11-eGfp mice were used to show the role of HDAC6 and HDAC11 in oncogene-driven and homeostatic hematopoiesis. As further proof of specificity, HDAC6 and HDAC11 were genetically ablated in MPN model cell lines using either RNA interference or inducible shRNA. For HDAC11 substrate identification, a combination of RNA-seq, acetylated proteome (SILAC), global metabolomics (LC-MS), Seahorse metabolic assays (Agilent Technologies), enzymatic assays, and acetylation-specific immunoblotting and mutation profiling were performed (Fig. 1). Results: Despite the established interplay between HDAC6, HSP90 and JAK2, neither a highly selective HDAC6 inhibitor, HDAC6 silencing, nor the Hdac6 deficiency suppressed MPN pathogenesis, although there were clear effects on the acetylation of α-tubulin, a well characterized HDAC6-selective substrate. Intriguingly, both inhibition of HDAC11 activity with highly-specific HDAC11 inhibitors and silencing HDAC11 using an inducible validated shRNA, identified HDAC11 as a therapeutic vulnerability for multiple human MPN cell lines. The Tg-Hdac11-eGFP reporter mice showed that HDAC11 is expressed in several hematopoietic cell types, including myeloid cells, erythroblasts, and megakaryocytes. Thus, Hdac11-/- and Hdac11+/+MPLWT bone marrow were examined for steady-state hematopoiesis and transplantation chimerism. These studies demonstrated that HDAC11 does not contribute to homeostatic or transplantated bone marrow reconstitution. However, in the oncogenic MPL model, recipient mice transplanted withoncogenic MPLW515L-expressing Hdac11-deficient HSCs displayed markedly impaired cytokine-independent colony-formation, had less fibrosis, and displayed improved survival in primary and secondary MPN hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; thus HDAC11 contributes to MPN pathogenesis (Fig. 1). Studies in additional leukemia cell lines, including THP-1, HL-60, and mantle lymphoma cell lines, but not in Ramos or K562 cells, established that HDAC11 contributes to oncogene-driven events in other cell types. Mechanistically, RNA-seq, SILAC proteomics, and metabolic profiling revealed that HDAC11 controls aerobic glycolysis by deacetylating Lys343 of the glycolytic enzyme enolase-1 (ENO1), functionally inactivating ENO1. Finally, the effects of targeting HDAC11 on metabolism were augmented by blocking compensatory pathways of oxidative phosphorylation that are induced via JAK2V617Fand MPLW515L oncogenic signaling. Conclusions: Our comprehensive screens of HDAC inhibitors, coupled with our biological, in vivo and molecular studies, indicate that HDAC11 is an attractive and potent target for disabling MPN metabolism and pathogenesis. These finding support the rationale for further development of clinical HDAC11 inhibitors for the treatment of metabolically-active cancers such as MPNs. Disclosures Pinilla Ibarz: Teva: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Reuther:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Levine:Loxo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Lilly: Honoraria; C4 Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Isoplexis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Imago Biosciences: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Qiagen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Prelude Therapeutics: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria. Verma:BMS: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Stelexis: Equity Ownership, Honoraria; Acceleron: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria. Epling-Burnette:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding; Celgene Corporation: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Novel Therapeutic Rationale for Targeting HDAC1 and PIM2 in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) cells preferentially grow and expand in the bone marrow (BM) to elicit the alteration of gene expression thereby acquiring drug resistance. The serine/threonine kinase PIM2 is constitutively overexpressed which is further up-regulated as a critical anti-apoptotic mediator in MM cells by interacting with BM stromal cells (BMSCs) and/or osteoclasts (Leukemia 2011, 2015). Histone deacetylases (HDACs) generally repress gene expression through deacetylation of lysine residues in histone tails. Therefore, HDAC inhibitors are able to restore the expression of tumor suppressor genes, and utilized as anti-cancer agents for various types of malignancies, including MM. Importantly, class-I and a class-IIb (HDAC6) HDACs have been shown as important therapeutic targets in MM (Nat Chem Biol 2010). Among class-I HDAC isoforms, HDAC1 and HDAC3 are highly expressed in MM cells (GSE5900 and GSE2113) and we have already reported that the HDAC3-DNMT1 axis is a critical therapeutic target (Leukemia 2017). However, the significance of HDAC1 expression in MM cell growth and survival is still largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the epigenetic regulation of PIM2 and the therapeutic implication of HDAC1 in MM cells. We observed that HDAC1- and HDAC3-selective inhibitor MS-275 (Entinostat) inhibited MM cell growth in a dose-dependent fashion. HDAC1 knockdown using a lentiviral shRNA system induced apoptosis in MM cell lines, indicating a crucial role of HDAC1 in MM cell growth and survival. To identify downstream targets of HDAC1 mediating MM cell survival, we next carried out RNA-Seq using RPMI 8226 cells after HDAC1 knockdown. Expression of a number of genes were altered (adjusted P values < 0.05, log fold change > 0.5). Among these genes, we found that PIM2 and IRF4 were significantly downregulated in HDAC1 knocked down cells. The downregulation of IRF4 and PIM2 was further confirmed at mRNA and protein levels in additional MM cell lines. It has been shown that MS-275 impaired the viability of primary MM cells associated with downregulation of IRF4 and PIM2 expression. However, importantly, HDAC1 knocked down-induced growth inhibition was not observed in RPMI8226 cells with IRF4 overexpression, indicating that IRF4 is a key MM cell survival mediator targeted by HDAC1 inhibition. Previous study shows that HDAC1 is abundantly enriched around at H3K27 acetylation or RNA Pol II- binding sites compared to HDAC2 or HDAC3 (GSE86450), However, our data assessed by ChIP-Seq indicated that HDAC1-occupied genes were not completely upregulated but rather downregulated in HDAC1-knockdown cells. Indeed, MS-275 and a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor C646 downregulated IRF4 and PIM2 expression in MM cells despite upregulation and downregulation of histone H3 acetylation, respectively. The ChIP-Seq data showed HDAC1 binding is enriched around the promotor regions of IRF4 and PIM2 in MM cells; however, MS-275 significantly reduced the HDAC1 enrichment as determined in ChIP-Q-PCR assays, suggesting that IRF4 and PIM2 expression is regulated by the balance between acetylation and deacetylation status of histones in MM cells. In addition, we found that IRF4 binds to the promoter of PIM2 and IRF4 knockdown reduced PIM2 expression, suggesting that IRF4 transcriptionally regulates PIM2. Although PIM2 expression is robustly upregulated in MM cells in an ambient microenvironment with BMSCs and/or osteoclasts, MS-275 and the PIM inhibitor SMI-16a cooperatively induce MM cell death. In conclusion, our data provides a basis of rationale combination strategy targeting of class-I HDAC and PIM2 to improve MM patient outcome. Disclosures Anderson: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Other: Scientific Founder; Oncopep: Other: Scientific Founder; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi-Aventis: Other: Advisory Board.

Combination of Chidamide with the CHOEP Regimen in Previously Untreated Patients with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL): A Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm, Phase 1b/2 Trial

Background: Chidamide is a novel benzamide class of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. In a pivotal phase 2 trial with refractory or relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), chidamide produced ORR 28% with CR 14% leading to its approval by the China Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for refractory or relapsed PTCL. We sought to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the novel histone deacetylase inhibitor chidamide in combination with CHOEP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, and prednisone) (Chi-CHOEP) for previously untreated PTCL. Patients and methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, single-arm Phase 1b - 2 clinical trial conducted exclusively in China. In the phase 1b study, three dose levels of chidamide were explored. In the phase 2 portion, patients were treated at the RP2D. The primary endpoint of the Phase 1b was determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose limiting toxicities (DLT) and RP2D. The primary endpoint of the phase 2 study was determination of the overall response rate (ORR). Results: A total of 82 patients were enrolled between March 2016 and Dec 2017 at 17 sites across China. The cutoff date for the analysis was July 2018. In phase 1b dose-escalation study, 15 patients were treated and the second dose cohort (20 mg biw) was declared the MTD and thus the RP2D. Subsequently, 67 patients were enrolled and treated at the RP2D in the phase 2 part of the study. Overall, among 82 enrolled patients in the entire phase 1b/2 study, the median number of cycles per person was five (range 1-8) and the relative dose intensity was 75.4%. The most common toxicities in the Phase 1b/2 study included leucopenia, anemia, and neutropenia. No reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus or Hepatitis B virus was observed. For entire phase 1b/2 study of 82 patients, the ORR was 68.3% with a CR rate of 43.9%. In the phase 2 part of the study, the ORR was 73.2% with 47.8% CR. with a median follow-up of 12.7 months (range 0.3-30.8 months), the median PFS for entire phase 1b/2 study was 17.4 months and the 1-year PFS was 52.9%. The median OS had not yet been reached, and the 1-year OS was 74.5%. In the phase 2 study, the median PFS was 17.4 months and the 1-year PFS was 53.6%. The median OS had not yet been reached, and the 1-year OS was 76.3%. Conclusion: Chi-CHOEP is an effective and feasible novel regimen for untreated PTCL. These data warrant further investigation in a randomized phase 3 study. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02987244. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Histone Deacetylases and their Inhibitors in Cancer Epigenetics.

Histone deacetylases (HDAC) and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) have greatly impacted the war on cancer. Their role in epigenetics has significantly altered the development of anticancer drugs used to treat the most rare, persistent forms of cancer. During transcription, HDAC and HDACi are used to regulate the genetic mutations found in cancerous cells by removing and/or preventing the removal of the acetyl group on specific histones. This activity determines the relaxed or condensed conformation of the nucleosome, changing the accessibility zones for transcription factors. These modifications lead to other biological processes for the cell, including cell cycle progression, proliferation, and differentiation. Each HDAC and HDACi class or group has a distinctive mechanism of action that can be utilized to halt the progression of cancerous cell growth. While the use of HDAC- and HDACi-derived compounds are relatively new in treatment of cancers, they have a proven efficacy when the appropriately utilized. This following manuscript highlights the mechanisms of action utilized by HDAC and HDACi in various cancer, their role in epigenetics, current drug manufacturers, and the impact predicative modeling systems have on cancer therapeutic drug discovery.

Histone Deacetylase Expressions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Functional Effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors on Liver Cancer Cells In Vitro.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause for deaths worldwide. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition (HDACi) is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy. However, most pharmacological HDACi unselectively block different HDAC classes and their molecular mechanisms of action are only incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to systematically analyze expressions of different HDAC classes in HCC cells and tissues and to functionally analyze the effect of the HDACi suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA) and trichostatin A (TSA) on the tumorigenicity of HCC cells. The gene expression of all HDAC classes was significantly increased in human HCC cell lines (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC, HuH7) compared to primary human hepatocytes (PHH). The analysis of HCC patient data showed the increased expression of several HDACs in HCC tissues compared to non-tumorous liver. However, there was no unified picture of regulation in three different HCC patient datasets and we observed a strong variation in the gene expression of different HDACs in tumorous as well as non-tumorous liver. Still, there was a strong correlation in the expression of HDAC class IIa (HDAC4, 5, 7, 9) as well as HDAC2 and 8 (class I) and HDAC10 (class IIb) and HDAC11 (class IV) in HCC tissues of individual patients. This might indicate a common mechanism of the regulation of these HDACs in HCC. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset analysis revealed that HDAC4, HDAC7 and HDAC9 as well as HDAC class I members HDAC1 and HDAC2 is significantly correlated with patient survival. Furthermore, we observed that SAHA and TSA reduced the proliferation, clonogenicity and migratory potential of HCC cells. SAHA but not TSA induced features of senescence in HCC cells. Additionally, HDACi enhanced the efficacy of sorafenib in killing sorafenib-susceptible cells. Moreover, HDACi reestablished sorafenib sensitivity in resistant HCC cells. In summary, HDACs are significantly but differently increased in HCC, which may be exploited to develop more targeted therapeutic approaches. HDACi affect different facets of the tumorigenicity of HCC cells and appears to be a promising therapeutic approach alone or in combination with sorafenib.

Valproic acid enhances the paclitaxel activity in respiratory tract cancer cells

Objective: Epigenetic therapies have already been introduced into clinical cancer management. The main objective of this study is to explore the potential of modulating paclitaxel efficiency using two epigenetic modifiers; valproic acid and decitabin.
 Methods: the potential sensitisation of lung and oral cancer cells to paclitaxel was examined by two well-known epigenetic modifiers; the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor Decidabine and histone deacetylase (HDAC) class I inhibitor Valproic acid (VPA). The effect epigenetic modifiers were tested using qPCR and pyrosequencing techniques utilising respiratory tract cancerous tissues and cell lines.
 Results: The results exhibited that VPA was an effective epigenetic sensitizer for treating lung and head and neck cancerous cells (A549, SKLU1 and BHY). 48 hours prior to paclitaxel addition, a significant increase (p<0.01) of the paclitaxel toxicity was observed when the cancer cells pre-treated with VPA for 48hr and subsequently with paxlitaxel for 72 hours. Interestingly, mRNA expression of AURKA was reduced by VPA treatment. The result also demonstrated that p53 status was involved in VPA- mediated paclitaxel sensitisation of HBEC cell lines to paclitaxel. VPA seems to potentiate p53 wild type cells (HBEC-3KT) to paclitaxel, while p53 HBEC knockouts showed less cytotoxic effect of paclitaxel after exposure to 0.5 mM VPA. On the other hand, decitabin was not efficient to sensitise any of the cell lines to paclitaxel when used in either a synchronous or a preceding manner. In addition, the pyrosequencing analysis of the methylation status of the different gene promoters in the lung tumour and normal tissues showed that all the promoters were unmethylated.
 Conclusion: It can be concluded that the epigenetic modifier VPA can alter the response of cancer cells to paclitaxel treatment. Further investigation is needed to explore the epigenetic mechanism of sensitising cancerous cells to paclitaxel.

The HosA Histone Deacetylase Regulates Aflatoxin Biosynthesis Through Direct Regulation of Aflatoxin Cluster Genes.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) always function as corepressors and sometimes as coactivators in the regulation of fungal development and secondary metabolite production. However, the mechanism through which HDACs play positive roles in secondary metabolite production is still unknown. Here, classical HDAC enzymes were identified and analyzed in Aspergillus flavus, a fungus that produces one of the most carcinogenic secondary metabolites, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Characterization of the HDACs revealed that a class I family HDAC, HosA, played crucial roles in growth, reproduction, the oxidative stress response, AFB1 biosynthesis, and pathogenicity. To a lesser extent, a class II family HDAC, HdaA, was also involved in sclerotia formation and AFB1 biosynthesis. An in vitro analysis of HosA revealed that its HDAC activity was considerably diminished at nanomolar concentrations of trichostatin A. Notably, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that HosA bound directly to AFB1 biosynthesis cluster genes to regulate their expression. Finally, we found that a transcriptional regulator, SinA, interacts with HosA to regulate fungal development and AFB1 biosynthesis. Overall, our results reveal a novel mechanism by which classical HDACs mediate the induction of secondary metabolite genes in fungi.

Abstract 2368: Domatinostat increases apoptosis, G2M cell-cycle arrest and immunogenicity of Merkel cell carcinoma

Abstract Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive skin cancer prevalent in elderly and immunocompromised patients. MCC is highly immunogenic as it is either associated with Merkel cell polyoma virus (MCPyV) integration or UV-associated mutations in non-viral cases. Indeed, immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) like PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies exert a strong clinical activity; however, primary or secondary resistance often occurs. Domatinostat (4SC-202) is an orally available small molecule inhibitor targeting histone deacetylases (HDAC) class I currently in clinical evaluation to improve response to CPI (SENSITIZE, NCT03278665). In syngeneic tumor mouse models domatinostat treatment demonstrated immune-modulatory effects by increasing the intra-tumoral infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (CTLs) and enhancing gene expression of a CPI response signature. Immune escape mechanisms described for MCC include low intra-tumoral levels of CTLs and reduced expression of antigen-presenting MHC class I molecules. Our previous data suggest that low MHC-I levels are reversible and involve epigenetic silencing of genes encoding the antigen-processing machinery (APM). Here, we present novel preclinical data about the efficacy and mode of action of domatinostat in MCC. Global gene expression by single cell RNA-seq revealed regulation of genes involved, among others, in apoptosis and antigen presentation. Importantly, domatinostat additionally inhibited proliferation of MCC cell lines by induction of a G2M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, expression of MCPyV-encoded transforming early genes, particularly during the G1-phase, was inhibited by domatinostat. Thus, it exerts also a direct anti-tumoral effect. In viable cells, domatinostat increases their susceptibility to immune responses, as qPCR and immunoblot analysis confirmed the induction of APM and MHC-I expression by domatinostat. APM and MHC-I expression has been reported to be restored by an epigenetic drug combination (vorinostat plus mithramycin). In contrast, we now provide evidence that the single agent treatment with domatinostat alone is sufficient for increasing immunogenicity of MCC cells. In summary, domatinostat counteracts immune escape of MCC in many aspects suggesting a combination treatment of the HDACi domatinostat with CPI as a promising therapeutic strategy. Prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm this hypothesis. Citation Format: Lina Song, Anne Catherine Bretz, Jan Gravemeyer, Ivelina Spassova, Svetlana Hamm, Shakhlo Muminova, Rene Bartz, Juergen C. Becker. Domatinostat increases apoptosis, G2M cell-cycle arrest and immunogenicity of Merkel cell carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2368.